Lota vs Manly, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates 2026-27 (QLD), ATO 91c/km, Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Lota and Manly are both Brisbane City Council suburbs, sitting 15.8 km and 15.9 km from Brisbane CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Manly runs $1,329 a year cheaper than Lota, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $15,235.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $15,200, about $29 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Manly
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Lota | Manly | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $950 | $950 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,900 | $1,900 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $4,431 | $4,452 | -$21 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $192 | $192 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $3,300 | $1,950 | +$1,350 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,800 | $2,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $10,581 | $9,252 | +$1,329 |
| Total (public transport) | $6,342 | $4,992 | +$1,350 |
Totals exclude electricity, estimated separately below. Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance estimated from ACCC premium rates; actual premiums vary. Council rates: minimum residential general rate (QLD).
| Dwelling | Lota | Manly | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,135 | $2,135 | - |
| Unit | $1,776 | $1,776 | - |
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for each suburb's climate zone at 2026-27 regulated prices for each suburb's electricity network, including supply charge (AER Default Market Offer caps, or the QCA price in regional Queensland; unit ≈ 75% of a house). Get the free report for a breakdown by your exact number of occupants.
Cost breakdown chart
Annual cost breakdown, Lota vs Manly (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Lota and Manly differ by $1,329 a year by car, but $1,350 of that is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On the sourced costs, council rates, water and the commute, the gap is $21, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $1,350 per year. Lota carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $1,350 per year, $6,342 from Lota versus $4,992 from Manly.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $950 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,900 a year.
- Driving commute favours Lota by $21 a year, $4,431 against $4,452.
- Building insurance favours Manly by $1,350 a year, $1,950 against $3,300.
Both suburbs sit in the same council area, so the rates line is identical and none of the difference between them comes from council. What separates them is commute distance and the insurance band.
Flood risk is rated medium in Lota against low in Manly, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Lota against low in Manly, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 8.6 in Manly against 7.5 in Lota, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Lota cumulative | Manly cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,581 | $9,252 | $1,329 |
| Year 3 | $32,705 | $28,597 | $4,108 |
| Year 5 | $56,176 | $49,120 | $7,056 |
| Year 10 | $121,299 | $106,064 | $15,235 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lota or Manly cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Lota runs $10,581 a year by car and Manly $9,252, but most of the $1,329 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $21. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Lota and Manly?
Annual council rates for a house are $950 in Lota (Brisbane City Council) and $950 in Manly (Brisbane City Council). Water and sewerage adds $1,900 in Lota and $1,900 in Manly. Both figures are the minimum residential general rate; properties on higher land value pay more.
How does the commute cost compare between Lota and Manly?
Annual driving commute costs are $4,431 from Lota and $4,452 from Manly to Brisbane CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $192 from Lota and $192 from Manly.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Lota and Manly?
At 3% annual cost growth, Lota costs a cumulative $121,299 and Manly costs $106,064 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $15,235 in favour of Manly. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Lota and Manly suits you better?
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Sources: Brisbane City Council and Brisbane City Council rate data, water utility pricing (QLD: Queensland Urban Utilities / Unitywater; NSW: Sydney Water / Hunter Water), ATO 91c/km, and SuburbCost insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.